1 Table of Contents Presidents’ Message by Linda Devlin, President, AENJ p..3 Prehistoric Cave Painting—A Beautiful Oneness From the Editors: of Strength and Delicacy by Donita Ellison pp. 4-5 Just Entering the Classroom Was a Daunting Experience Art Speaks Genius! by William Crow pp. 6-7 What an exciting theme for conference and Artbeat. Grants Available for an Antique Resource Kit! We are so excited about this , our second issue of Artbeat and to be by Cynthia Percarpio p.7 able to publish it in full color! The response to our call for articles Visual Art, Student Success, Public Relations by Dr. Paula Valenti p.8 was again overwhelming! There were over 23 articles submitted for Artbeat this year, and there were literally three times that The National Art Education Association Conference, by Jennifer Tiongson p.9 many photographs. Our thanks to the editors and readers (all School and Community Spirit Mural, members!) who gave up more than one summers’ day to discuss, by Michelle D. Dillon pp. 10-11 edit and proof read the magazine. More Musings from the Rocking Chair Our thanks to the staff and the AENJ Executive Board for their by Eileen Scally p. 12 support and enthusiasm. (See page 39) And thanks to you, our Spring Symposium: by Dr. Debbie Greh p. 13 members, whose support and encouragement are so important to The Art Student’s Workbook; A Classroom Companion our work. by Eric Gibbons pp. 14-15 Art Connections What moves those of genius, what inspires their work is not new ideas, but by Kristen Marino & Stephanie Romano pp. 16-17 their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not Interactive Art Helps Frame a Moving Experience enough. Eugene Delacroix by David Steele pp. 18-19 Turning Knobs and Shifting Paradigms by Andrew Werth pp. 20-21 Cover submissions for Artbeat 2010 Priceless Professional Development by Jude Harzer pp. 22-23 New Jersey Performing Arts Center by Carrie Russoniello p.24 Art as Muse by Cheryl Parisi p.25 From the Visual Arts to the Literary Arts: Maryann Baskinger The Creative Process by Cheryl Parisi pp. 26-27 AENJ Scholarship and Grant Programs Allison Dressler by Susan Bivona pp. 28-29 Children’s Art Takes Flight at Newark Liberty Airport by Jenifer Simon & Alonzrea Stewart-Austin pp. 30-31 The Journey of a Painting. by Fiona Weiss pp. 32-33 Give a Little, Get a Lot! by Ellen Hargrove p. 34 Art Class “Artivism” by Ellen Hargrove p. 35 Collaborating with Collage by Karen Kiick pp. 36-37 Karen Goldberg Karen Kiick Cover Design by Linda Devlin; Cover Layout by Kristin Osgood If you haven’t received Web-beat you’ve been missing out on up to date information on events and activities! Make sure we have your email address, and take advantage of the work- shops, dinners, exhibits, scholarships, grants and Barbara Levine Deborah Rosenthal awards programs available to all aenj members. 2 Presidents’ Message During the month of March, AENJ celebrates Youth Art Month (YAM) throughout the state of New Jersey but our preparation for this begins in December with our YAM contest. Submit your stu- by Linda Devlin dents’ YAM Contest entries by December 1, 2010. This year, the YAM President, AENJ theme, “Art Sparks Genius” can inspire your students to make chal- lenging, thought-provoking posters, which will be used to honor s I look back on 2010 I can’t help but think about the celebration of art education in the month of March. Multiple the importance of advocacy to our programs. The strength A winners are selected from all age categories. Winning art work is of an art teacher goes far beyond the lessons which we choose to used for a state poster that goes out to all AENJ members, a state challenge our students. We cannot limit our jobs to the four walls flag that offers the student and teacher a trip to Washington DC that define our classroom. for a National Ceremony, a weekend trip to New York for teachers and students filled with trips to museums and a Broadway Show From day one it is the unspoken part of our job that we must per- sponsored by Sargent Art. Winning art is also featured on but- form: promotion of Art Education. As art teachers we know the tons, billboards, invitations to the state YAM reception, and new importance of Art Education in a child’s life. What seems so obvi- last year for the first time, candy bar wrappers! ous to us is not to others and we must work diligently to promote the arts and the programs which we work so hard to establish and Of course, participation in each counties YAM Exhibit affords your maintain. students and your program the recognition of administrators, parents and community. If you haven’t participated in YAM in the AENJ offers you many opportunities to get your student’s work vis- past, now is the time! Having work hang in the county show with ible. Taking advantage of these opportunities can only strengthen the possibility of hanging at the state show is an art programs’ your programs’ station in the hierarchy of the educational ladder dream come true. Promoting your students art will give your pro- of your school. gram an integral presence in your district. Four times a year AENJ calls for submission of student art work to Get involved with your parents and community and AENJ through be shown at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark NJ. your students’ art. If you have never been to NJPAC I can tell you there are few places in the state of New Jersey that can hold a candle to the beauty and AENJ is an all volunteer organization that can offer you opportuni- importance of this venue. AENJ’s shows are hung in the lobby of ties to connect with your peers professionally, gain professional the Victoria Theater, directly adjacent to the main lobby. All work development, and promote art education locally and nationally. is framed and displayed with museum lighting. The work hangs Get involved with the AENJ. Volunteer! Just a small amount of for several months and is viewed by thousands of theater goers your time will come back to you tenfold. Your administration and weekly. AENJ holds an open reception honoring your students students will appreciate your dedication and AENJ will become a with certificates. Parents, artist, teachers, and administrators are stronger beacon for art education in New Jersey. invited to share in the celebration. 2010 Award Winners: The George DiBouno Recognition Award: The Distinguished Achievement Award: Mr. Joseph M. Ferraina, Superintendent of the Long Dave Mackey, AENJ Past President Branch Public Schools The Anthony A Guadadiello Award: Divisional Awards Jane Graziano San D Hasselsman, High School Division The John J. Pappas Recognition Award: Ellen Hargrove, Middle Leval Division Sandie Bowie, VP education division, NJPAC; Beth Delaney, Elementary Division Jeff Nathanson Executive Director of the Art’s Council of Youth Art Month Awards Princeton. Linda Lora Pugliese Award Winner, Stacy Watson Lynn Dodson Award Winners, Hackensack Art Teachers 3 “to represent as convincing a pose and action as possible…The artist saw and recorded only those aspects that were essential to interpret the appearance Prehistoric Cave Painting— and character of the animal—its grace, or awkwardness, its cunning, dignity or A Beautiful Oneness of Strength and ferocity.” Delicacy by Donita Ellison We looked closely at a drawing from Niaux, France “Deer and Head of a Horse.” hat can the cave paintings drawn by prehistoric art- (c. 15,000 – 10,000 B.C.). I asked the students if they thought it was W ists 35,000 years ago teach students today in 21st century beautiful. They did. And I asked them to describe what they saw. classrooms? Through the Aesthetic Realism Teaching Method I Students observed how the line is strong, thick and dark; how it am fortunate to be able to show my students that the purpose of delineated the contour of the animal’s back, yet is so delicate as art--from prehistoric to a modern abstraction--is to like the world it comes down around the deer’s tail. The precision of the line is through knowing it, and that art says something about the ques- powerful and also sensitive as it moves around the contour of the tions of our own lives! The basis of my lessons is this principle animal. It is never mechanical. It goes over soft flesh and hard stated by Eli Siegel: “The world, bones—goes in and out, moves art, and self explain each other: up and down, gets thick and thin, each is the aesthetic oneness of breaks off and continues: all to opposites.” show what that prehistoric deer Strength and delicacy, power was. and precision are opposites in both the technique and mean- We saw that opposites are promi- ing of art from its beginnings, nent throughout this drawing. including the earliest known The antlers have grace and power. record of man’s visual expres- There is a oneness with gentle sion that began some 35,000 curve and sharp point. The heavy years ago deep inside the earth body of the deer is supported upon on cave walls. Using large flat slender, delicate legs. The thick bones for palettes, red and strong line of the back is gracefully yellow clay for pigment, animal contoured. A graceful, sweeping bristles and reeds for brushes, these early artists painted horses, diagonal joins deer and horse. The line itself is both soft and firm.